[gmunny]

Manufacturer: Blue Chip Company
Retailer(s): Partial listing of retailers: www.spinettis.com, www.holdempokerchips.com, www.cardroomsupply.com, www.nevadajacks.net, www.casinocom.com, www.buypokerchips.com
Average Price: $0.55-$1.50 per chip
Material: Compression Molded Clay
Member Review by: gmunny

The Blue Chip Company (BCC) is located in Las Vegas, Nevada and was founded by Charles Endy, the brother of Paul Endy (founder of Paul-son). Currently, the manager of operations is Charles Endy’s son, Mike. Oddly, Blue Chip does not have a website. Here is the company’s listed phone number and address: (702) 399-0382, 201 Commerce Park Ct, North Las Vegas, NV 89032. bluechipcompany@aol.com


BCC makes clay chips for both the retail and casino markets. Casino chips include or have included: Alladin, Fitzgerald's, Golden Gate, Peppermill Reno, Silver Legacy, and the Stratosphere. BCC makes fantasy clay chips for retail distribution including Fan of Cards, James Bond and Viva Las Vegas chips. Blue Chip also makes exclusive chip lines for specific vendors including: Nevada Jacks, Martini Club, Mardi Gras, Grand Island, Club Desperado, Turf Club, and the Vineyard Casino Commemorative Issue.

BCC made the chips used in ESPN’s TV series, TILT. Most of the show’s chip lot was sold on E-bay recently. BCC also made the tournament chips for the recently televised Poker Superstars and the Ultimate Poker Challenge at The Plaza.

For custom chips, I have only come across one instance where BCC has made custom chips for an individual. There were reported difficulties dealing with BCC, but the person eventually received his chips. Here is one of the threads: http://archiveserver.twoplustwo.com/...=&fpart=1&vc=1

Also, there is a current group buy started by Circlencirlce on the THP website and also has a thread on this website. See links: http://www.texasholdem-poker.com/for...er=asc&start=0, http://www.chiptalk.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1525, http://www.chiptalk.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1625

Blue Chip Company seems to be geared more to deal with high volume retailers and casinos than with individuals. Try at your own risk.

Price

Here is a list of Fantasy Chips available for purchase. Prices may vary by site and discounts may be obtained by purchasing sets. These chips may also be sold by other sites not listed below.

Club Desperado $1.10/chip per www.cardroomsupply.com
Fan of Cards $0.79/chip per www.spinettis.com
Grand Island $1.35/chip per www.holdempokerchips.com
James Bond $0.79/chip per www.spinettis.com
Las Vegas Clay Pro $0.90/chip per www.pokershowroom.com
Martini Club $1.25/chip per www.nevadajacks.net
Mardi Gras $1.29/chip per www.holdempokerchips.com see individual review here: http://www.chiptalk.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1785
Modern Clay $1.50/chip per www.buypokerchips.com see review here: http://www.chiptalk.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1767
Nevada Jacks $1.25/chip - See individual review here: http://www.chiptalk.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=648
Turf Club $0.55/chip per www.spinettis.com
Viva Las Vegas $0.79/chip per www.spinettis.com
Vineyard Casino $1.35/chip per www.holdempokerchips.com

Feel

I like the feel of BCC chips because they are clay chips. I handled, shuffled, and played with the chips and the only real complaint I have is that they are a little light. When comparing to TR King and Paulson chips, the first thing you notice is the weight. I used a postage scale to weigh the chips (in ten chip stacks) and the BCC chips averaged about 8.8 grams per chip versus 10.5 grams for TR King, 10.7 grams for Paulson casino chips and 9.3 grams for ASM chips. This may not be the most accurate weight measurement, but it is good enough for comparison purposes.

The chips are very hard, but all new clay chips made in recent years seem to have this tendency and will probably break in as they are in play. The inlay on the James Bond and the Vineyard chips are very slick. I don’t mind this, but many people may not like it. For clay chips, these are probably the most slick, but nowhere near as bad as the 11.5 gram composite chips. The size/diameter of the chip is comparable to Paulson chips and is slightly larger than TR King and slightly smaller than ASM.

Stacking

The typical BCC inlay is very slick, which seem to make the chips more susceptible to being knocked over. The BCC’s are behind ASM, Paulson and TR King chips in the stacking category. As far as chip thickness, BCC, ASM, Paulson and TR King Chips are all very close.

Sound

This is a tough category as it is pretty subjective, though I have not met a real clay chip whose sound I did not like! To me BCC’s chips sound good when shuffled, riffled or dropped and are very close to the sound of Paulsons. This doesn’t surprise me as the chips are made by the Endy family. In comparison, TR King chips has more of a dull “thud” to them and almost no “echo” or resonation and the ASM chips have are more high-pitched tone and have more resonation when riffled.

Looks

Mold - BCC’s standard mold is the “flame” mold (also referred to as “shell” mold). Compared to the other clay chip makers like Paulson’s Hat & Cane, or ASM’s Horse’s Head or TR Kings Crown, the Flame mold doesn’t do much for me. The “flame” is really shallow with not a lot of definition. The flame doesn’t detract from the look of the chip, but it doesn’t add anything to the character of the chip either. Other chips like Nevada Jacks (see separate review), Mardi Gras and Martini Club have different, custom molds.

Inlay- BCC chips come in various inlays including the grand inlay (James Bond, Grand Island, ESPN’s Tilt Chips) and full face (like the Viva Las Vegas, Fan of Cards and Vineyard Commemorative chips). Other than Paulson, I believe that BCC is the only other Clay chip manufacturer that has the full face graphic. The inlays on the fantasy chips vary, but there doesn’t seem to be a limit as to the graphic on the chips. The full face inlay graphic on the Vineyard Commemorative chips looks fantastic.

Edge Spots - BCC’s edge spots and color combinations are highly appealing. In terms of variety, BCC has some of the better selections as far the number of edge spots and color combinations (single, double or triple color edge spots). For example the James Bond chips have 3 edge spots per chip and have single, double or triple color spots. The Grand Islands chips have 3 or 4 edge spots per chip and have double or triple color spots.

Quality – There have been many reports (on various boards) related to quality issues as to the centering of inlays and the flatness of certain chips (chips spin on its flat side). The BCC samples that I have did not have any “spinners” and the graphics all seemed to be well centered. However, on the full inlay graphics like the Fan of Cards or the Commemorative Vineyard chips, the outside ring or border of some of the chips are not uniform. This is tough to describe so see the sample of the Fan of Card and the Vineyard chips below.

Security/Originality

Unless you have custom chips, most of these chips can be purchased from various vendors on the Internet and E-bay so there is the possibility of people bringing in chips to your game. If security is important for your game, I would not buy BCC’s fantasy chips.

Durability

The chips are very durable. The inlays are well attached and did not give in to my fingernail or even a scissor. Also, I dropped a few chips from my 2nd floor balcony to the concrete patio below and the only damage was a slight scuffing of the edges. The chips are definitely well made.

Reviewers Comments

All and all, the BCC fantasy chips have good graphics, colors and edge spots variety. Some people may be turned off by the light weight of these chips or the slickness of the inlays. I personally like the look of the Vineyard Commemorative, the Grand Isle, Mardis Gras chips and ESPN TILT chips. Repeating what many say here; get samples before you buy.

Chip Pictures

Club Desperado


Fan of Cards


Grand Island


James Bond Replica



Las Vegas Club Pro


Mardi Gras


Modern Clay


Turf Club (inlay is not a true shaped inlay, but part of the graphic)


Viva Las Vegas



Vineyard Commemorative




Off-Centered Chips (thanks to CaptLego for the scans)


Casino Chips



Thanks to CaptLego for $5 chip scans below:


Chips from ESPN’s short-lived TILT show


Chips from Poker Superstars Invitational (source Chipguide.com)


Blank or Standard Molds

[dboy1970]

Blue Chip T Mold Blanks
Purchased from: http://www.holdempokerchips.com/
Price Paid: $.55

I purchased 50 of these chips to use as a heads up set along with my Samurai chips ( also by the Blue Chip Company) to help cut the cost down. They are a perfect match to the Samurais just slightly lighter. The weight of the chips are 9 grams.


Pros:

• The Chip has a nice texture and the interlocking T mold looks fantastic.
• Color Variety--14 differant colors are available at holdempokerchips.com A little oil on these chips really made them stand out.
• A perfect compliment to the Samuria chip also MFG by Blue Chip both have the interlocking T mold
  
• Cost-- at 55 cents a chip you will be pressed to find a new clay chip in this price range.

Cons:

• A few few of the chips in my order were warped. Affecting the stackablity of these chips.
  
• Chips feel a little light at only 9 grams
  
• Texture of Chips seems to attract more dirt and oild from handling making them difficult to clean and keep cleaned.